Resources for Journalists

WFH during COVID-19? The longer you sit the more likely your work will be sh... not great

Publicly released: Wed 4 Aug 2021 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

Journal of Occupational Health

The study found that people who had to sit for long periods of time during the COVID-19 pandemic say that their job performance got worse. ... The COVID-19 pandemic provided us a chance to reconsider the Read more about WFH during COVID-19? The longer you sit the more likely your work will be sh... not great

Cancer treatments didn’t falter in Australia during 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns

Publicly released: Wed 4 Aug 2021 at 0000 AEST, 0200 NZST

Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific

pandemic. But the researchers say the good news is closely linked to the relatively low rates of COVID-19 infections in Australia last year – and future treatment patterns may depend on ... The findings Read more about Cancer treatments didn’t falter in Australia during 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns

EXPERT REACTION: Doherty Institute modelling shows way out of lockdowns

Publicly released: Tue 3 Aug 2021 at 1730 AEST, 1930 NZST

Modelling from the Doherty Institute used to set the federal government's vaccination targets for reducing COVID-19 restrictions has been released. ... The modelling shows vaccination rates of 70 and 80 Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Doherty Institute modelling shows way out of lockdowns

No COVID-19 impact on Canadian stillbirths, preterm births

Publicly released: Tue 3 Aug 2021 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

Canadian Medical Association Journal

Rates of premature births and stillbirths were unaffected by the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Canadian study. ... Thus, the researchers looked at birth outcomes in the public health Read more about No COVID-19 impact on Canadian stillbirths, preterm births

Potential new way to detect COVID infection is 99.9% accurate

Publicly released: Tue 3 Aug 2021 at 1045 AEST, 1245 NZST

PLOS Pathogens

The study looked at the microRNA profiles in the plasma of ten COVID-19 patients and ten healthy donors. ... 9 per cent accuracy. The authors say these findings suggest that microRNA profiling may be Read more about Potential new way to detect COVID infection is 99.9% accurate

COVID-19 could be to blame for sharp rise in childhood short-sightedness

Publicly released: Tue 3 Aug 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

British Journal of Ophthalmology

Around 1 in 5 (19. 5%) of the children in the COVID-19 group developed short-sightedness between January and August 2020, compared with around 1 in 3 (37%) of those ... The estimated 1-year incidence of Read more about COVID-19 could be to blame for sharp rise in childhood short-sightedness

Text message reminders increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake

Publicly released: Tue 3 Aug 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature

Ending the COVID-19 pandemic will require quick and effective strategies to overcome the reticence of citizens to get vaccinated. ... However, the authors found that adding information addressing vaccine Read more about Text message reminders increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake

What psychology says about COVID non-compliers

Publicly released: Mon 2 Aug 2021 at 1623 AEST, 1823 NZST

PLOS ONE

When people protested the COVID-19 lockdown in Sydney last week, many were speculating about whether a certain type of person was more likely to be involved. ... She continued: “Our research reveals the Read more about What psychology says about COVID non-compliers

Headspace room to improve

Publicly released: Mon 2 Aug 2021 at 1305 AEST, 1505 NZST

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry

people aged 12-25 years since the introduction of Medicare Better Access and headspace services in 2006-2007. ... Concerns have been raised that health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic may Read more about Headspace room to improve

How extensive were the adverse health effects of bushfire smoke in the summer of 2019/20?

Publicly released: Mon 2 Aug 2021 at 0800 AEST, 1000 NZST

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

people, conducted by researchers from UNSW Sydney’s Kirby Institute and the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. ... The 2019-2020 bushfires hit Australia before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, mask Read more about How extensive were the adverse health effects of bushfire smoke in the summer of 2019/20?

Economic modelling shows trying to eliminate COVID-19 may be our best approach

Publicly released: Sat 31 Jul 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Health Forum

Modelling on the health and economic impacts of how we deal with a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria suggests that a strategy aimed at eliminating the virus from the community produces ... New South Wales), Read more about Economic modelling shows trying to eliminate COVID-19 may be our best approach

Vaccine resistant COVID-19 strains most likely to emerge when 60% of us are vaccinated

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jul 2021 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Scientific Reports

Vaccine resistant strains are most likely to emerge when around 60 per cent of the population has been vaccinated against COVID-19 and we should keep wearing masks and social distancing, ... COVID-19: Read more about Vaccine resistant COVID-19 strains most likely to emerge when 60% of us are vaccinated

Can Australia emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and build a world-leading RNA science-based biotech industry?

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jul 2021 at 1300 AEST, 1500 NZST

RNA National Roundtable

However, the success of RNA based technology in the rapid development of safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 has drawn sustained public interest in the technology,” said Professor Mattick, who Read more about Can Australia emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and build a world-leading RNA science-based biotech industry?

Climate change troubles for tuna-dependent Pacific Island economies

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jul 2021 at 1117 AEST, 1317 NZST

Sustainability

This is a climate justice issue,” said Johann Bell, lead author and the Senior Director of Tuna Fisheries at Conservation International’s Center for Oceans. ... Tuna redistribution is one of the many Read more about Climate change troubles for tuna-dependent Pacific Island economies

No, COVID-19 does not enter our DNA

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jul 2021 at 1030 AEST, 1230 NZST

Cell Reports

We assessed the claims in cells grown in the laboratory, conducted DNA sequencing and found no evidence of COVID-19 in DNA. ... Associate Professor Watterson said the research confirmed there was no Read more about No, COVID-19 does not enter our DNA

Why uncertainty makes us change our behaviour – even when we shouldn’t

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jul 2021 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

The Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition

People around the world dramatically changed their shopping behaviours at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. ... But the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a new layer of uncertainty to major areas of our lives Read more about Why uncertainty makes us change our behaviour – even when we shouldn’t

EXPERT REACTION: Will vaccines help get NSW out of lockdown?

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jul 2021 at 1000 AEST, 1200 NZST

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in NSW, the state is looking at ways to speed up vaccinations for those most at risk of continuing the spread of the virus. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Will vaccines help get NSW out of lockdown?

Aussies and kiwis swarmed to online mental health courses in early pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jul 2021 at 0736 AEST, 0936 NZST

Internet Interventions

In the 3 months prior to the pandemic, 2,800 people registered for a This Way Up course and 1,900 people registered for a Just a Thought course, whereas those ... numbers jumped to 21,800 and 5,400 Read more about Aussies and kiwis swarmed to online mental health courses in early pandemic

Some people are reporting memory problems after COVID-19 infection

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jul 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

What The Study Did: Researchers examined how common self-reported memory problems were in a large group of COVID-19 patients who weren’t hospitalized and had relatively mild disease. ... Eight months Read more about Some people are reporting memory problems after COVID-19 infection

Negative impacts of COVID-19 on sperm may get better over time

Publicly released: Fri 30 Jul 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Reproduction, Fertility and Development

COVID-19 may be bad news for men's little swimmers, but new research suggests that at least some negative impacts of COVID-19 on sperm might only be temporary. ... International researchers looked at 20 Read more about Negative impacts of COVID-19 on sperm may get better over time